Magnetically maintained electric switch

ABSTRACT

A switch initially actuated by a manually operated actuator that in turn moves a resilient switch finger into contact with a fixed terminal so as to establish a circuit therethrough. The actuator simultaneously depresses an armature into the core of an electromagnetic solenoid which by the closing of the switch finger becomes energized to be self-holding with the actuator being restored to its initial position by a spring carried by the switch finger notwithstanding that the switch finger through the energization of the solenoid remains in its closed contact position.

United States Patent [72] Inventors Walter L. Cherry;

Raymond G. Castle, Highland Park, Ill. [21] Appl. No. 866,624 [22] Filed Oct. 15,1969 [45] Patented Mar. 2, 1971 [73] Assignee Cherry Electrical Products Corporation Highland Park, Ill.

[54] MAGNETICALLY MAINTAINED ELECTRIC SWITCH 8 Claims, 8 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 335/202, 335/ 1 86 [51] Int. Cl H0lh 45/02 [50] Field ofSearch 335/202, 164, 186, 187; 337/62, 66; 200/160 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,281,208 10/1918 Richetelle 335/186 1,580,025 4/1926 Eaton 335/186 2,611,843 9/1952 Bourne.... 335/186 3,153,124 10/1964 Burg 335/186 3,436,699 4/1969 Main 335/188 3,449,700 6/1969 Gillilan 335/188 Primary ExaminerHarold Broome Attorney-Edward C. Threedy MAGNETICALLY MAINTAINED ELECTRIC SWITCH SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A magnetically held switch including a plastic two-piece casing and a mounting bracket which performs two functions one of which is to connect the two-piece casing together so as to form an integral housing for the switch components which include an electromagnetic solenoid carried by portions of the mounting bracket within the housing.

Associated with the solenoid and connected to the free end of the armature thereof is a leaf-type switch blade that has one end connected to a fixed terminal, and the opposite end movable into a closed position with a second fixed terminal. The leaf-type switch blade provides a spring finger which engages one endz of a movable plunger. The movable plunger when depressed within the switch casing not only moves the leaftype switch blade into contact with one of the fixed terminals but also depresses the armature into the core of the solenoid. When the switch blade makes contact with the fixed terminal it effects energization of the solenoid so that the same will magnetically attract and hold its armature in its depressed position notwithstanding that the spring finger has returned the actuator to its original position. v

GENERAL DESCRIPTION The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings showing a preferred embodiment o the invention in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the magnetically held switch and mounting bracket;

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the invention with the front cover removed;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary detailed view showing the switch blade and actuator in a first or actuated position;

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the invention similar to FIG. 2 but showing the components thereof in a fully actuated position;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the components of the switch in an exploded relationship;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the inner wall configuration of the front cover;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the inner wall configuration of the hollow casing; and

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the switch actuator.

The switch of this invention includes a bracket 10 that consists of a mounting flange 11 and two spaced apart oppositely extending flanges l2 and 13. Between the flanges 12 and 13 of the bracket 10 is adapted to be mounted a coil 14 of an electromagnetic solenoid 15. The bracket 10 is mounted upon the switch housing 16 by being placed in abutment with the rear wall 17 of the hollow casing 18 so as to cover the opening 19- formed therein. The flanges 12 and 13 as well as the coil 14 positioned therebetween will be projected within the interior of the casing 18. With the bracket 10 thus mounted to the ho]- low casing 18 of the switch housing 16 the free extremities of the flanges l2 and 13 will then be projected through slots 21 and 22 formed in the front wall 23 of the cover 24 such as is shown in FIG. 1. To connect the cover 24 to the casing 18 and to mount the solenoid therebetween the free extremities 25 and 26 of the flanges l2 and 13 that areexposed out of the slots 21 and 22 are then twisted about their longitudinal axis so as to be disposed out of alignment with such slots 21 and 22, thus preventing the separation of the cover 24 from the casing 18.

The casing 18 together with the cover 24 provides interior cavities for the reception of the different components which make up the present invention. As has been hereinbefore described, the solenoid 15 through the presence of the flanges l2 and 13 of the bracket 10, is mounted within one of the interior cavities of the casing 18 and cover 24. A second cavity 27 is formed by the casing 18 and cover 24 and houses the switch finger 28 which has one end thereof connected as at 29 to one end portion 30 of a fixed terminal 31. A leg portion 32 of the terminal 31 is adapted to be positioned in a recess 33 formed adjacent one sidewall 34 of the casing 18, and connected to the windings of the coil 14, while the one end por- 5 tion 30 of the fixed terminal 31 projects out of a slot 35 formed therethrough, and is adapted to be connected to a circuit line.

Adapted to project out of a slot 36 formed in the opposite sidewall of the casing 18, defining the second cavity 27, is a second fixed terminal 37. A third terminal 38 is adapted to project out of the bottom wall of the casing 18 as a portion thereof extends through a slot 39 provided therefor, with the terminal having one end connected to the windings of the coil 14, and its exposed end connected to the circuit line.

The casing 18 and cover 24 together provide a top structure 40 having an opening 41 formed therethrough and in open communication with the second cavity 27. This opening 41 terminates into an enlarged chamber 42 which houses the rectangular base 43 of an actuator 44, when the opposite end 45 of the actuator 44 is slidably mounted in the opening 41. Formed on the base 43 of the actuator 44 are two spacedapart depending legs 46 and 47 between which normally projects the free end of a leaf spring-18 that is struck from the 25 medial portion of the switch blade 28, such as is shown in FIG.

The solenoid 15 includes an armature 49 that provides at one end a dielectric cap 50. An annular groove 51 is formed in the cap and receives opposite side edge portions 52 of the spring blade 28 when the cap 50 of the armature 49 is connected thereto by being first projected through a circular opening 53 formed in the medial portion of the blade 28 and then moved transversely thereof into a position in axial alignment with the actuator 44 such as is shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4.

When'the actuator 44 is depressed the depending legs 46 and 47 provided by the base 43 thereof will move the armature 49 inward of the coil 14 of the solenoid l5 and simultaneously flex the spring blade 28 so that its free end moves into contact with the second fixed terminal 37. At this point a circuit will be completed so as to energize the solenoid 15 to magnetically retain the armature 49 therein. a

When the moving force is removed from the actuator 44, the leaf spring 48 will yieldably return the actuator 44 to its original position as shown in FIG. 2. However, by reason of the coil 14 being energized the switch blade 28 through its connection to the cap 50 of the armature 49 will remain in contact with the terminal 37 such as is shown in FIG. 4.

The solenoid held switch will remain in its closed condition as long as the coil 14 is energized. The control for the energization of the coil 14 may be achieved through a timing mechanism not shown and which makes up no part of the present invention.

While we have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying our invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. We, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail ourselves of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. An electromagnetic switch having a two-piece housing consisting of a case and cover that together provide interior cavities for the components of the switch wherein the improvement comprises:

a. a bracket for securing the case and cover together to form the switch housing;

b. an electromagnetic solenoid including a movable armature positioned within the switch housing;

0. means provided by said bracket for supporting said solenoid within the switch housing;

(I. an elongated switch blade carried by a terminal member within the housing and extending transversely to the axis of said armature of said solenoid;

e. means connecting said switch blade to one end of said armature;

i. an actuator carried by the switch housing and movable through one wall thereof and normally extending in a spaced-apart coaxial relation with respect to said armature with said actuator movable against said armature to move the same within the core of said solenoid while simultaneouslyflexing said switch blade into contact with a fixed terminal to complete an electric circuit therethrough so as to energize said solenoid to magnetically retain said armature therein; and

g. means provided by said switch blade for resiliently supporting said actuator in spaced relation with said switch blade and said armature of said solenoid.

2. An electromagnetic switch as defined by claim 1 wherein said means provided by said bracket for supporting said solenoid within the switch housing comprises two spaced-apart flanges adaptedto extend through aligned slots formed in one wall of the case and one wall of the cover, and between which is carried said solenoid within the switch housing, said flanges having their extremities projecting beyond the one wall of said cover and adapted to be deformed out of alignment with the slot formed therein so as to secure said cover to said case when said solenoid is positioned therein. I

3. An electromagnetic switch as defined by claim 1 wherein said means connecting said switch blade to one end of said armature comprises an annular groove formed in said one end of said armature which receives and secures portions of the switch blade intermediate its ends to said armature.

4. An electromagnetic switch as defined by claim 3 wherein said means provided by said bracket for supporting said solenoid within the switch housing comprises two spaced-apart flanges adapted to extend through aligned slots formed in one wall of the case and one wall of the cover, and between which is carried said solenoid within the switch housing, said flanges having their extremities projecting beyond the one wall of said cover and adapted to be deformed out of alignment with the slot formed therein so as to secure said cover to said case when said solenoid is positioned therein.

5. An electromagnetic switch as defined by claim 1 wherein said means provided by said switch blade for resiliently supporting said actuator comprises a spring finger struck from the medial portion of said switch blade and bent out of the normal plane thereof and into contact with one end of said actuator within said housing.

6. An electromagnetic switch as defined by claim 5 wherein said means provided by said bracket for supporting said solenoid within the switch housing comprises two spaced-apart flanges adapted to extend through aligned-slots formed in one wall of the case and one wall of the cover, and between which is carried said solenoid within the switch housing, said flanges having their extremities projecting beyond the one wall of said cover and adapted to be deformed out of alignment with the slot formed therein so as to secure said cover to said case when said solenoid is positioned therein.

7. An electromagnetic switch as defined by claim 5 wherein said means connecting said switch blade to one end of said armature comprises a annular groove formed in said one end of said armature that receives and secures portions of the switch blade to either side of and beneath said spring finger and intermediate its ends to said armature.

8. An electromagnetic switch as defined by claim 4 wherein said means provided by said switch blade for resiliently supporting said actuator comprises a spring finger struck from the medial portion of said switch blade and bent out of the normal plane thereof and into contact with one end of said actuator within said housing. 

1. An electromagnetic switch having a two-piece housing consisting of a case and cover that together provide interior cavities for the components of the switch wherein the improvement comprises: a. a bracket for securing the case and cover together to form the switch housing; b. an electromagnetic solenoid including a movable armature positioned within the switch housing; c. means provided by said bracket for supporting said solenoid within the switch housing; d. an elongated switch blade carried by a terminal member within the housing and extending transversely to the axis of said armature of said solenoid; e. means connecting said switch blade to one end of said armature; f. an actuator carried by the switch housing and movable through one wall thereof and normally extending in a spaced-apart coaxial relation with respect to said armature with said actuator movable against said armature to move the same within the core of said solenoid while simultaneously flexing said switch blade into contact with a fixed terminal to complete an electric circuit therethrough so as to energize said solenoid to magnetically retain said armature therein; and g. means provided by said switch blade for resiliently supporting said actuator in spaced relation with said switch blade and said armature of said solenoid.
 2. An electromagnetic switch as defined by claim 1 wherein said means provided by said bracket for supporting said solenoid within the switch housing comprises two spaced-apart flanges adapted to extend through aligned slots formed in one wall of the case and one wall of the cover, and between which is carried said solenoid within the switch housing, said flanges having their extremities projecting beyond the one wall of said cover and adapted to be deformed out of alignment with the slot formed therein so as to secure said cover to said case when said solenoid is positioned therein.
 3. An electromagnetic switch as defined by claim 1 wherein said means connecting said switch blade to one end of said armature comprises an annular groove formed in said one end of said armature which receives and secures portions of the switch blade intermediate its ends to said armature.
 4. An electromagnetic switch as defined by claim 3 wherein said means provided by said bracket for supporting said solenoid within the switch housing comprises two spaced-apart flanges adapted to extend through aligned slots formed in one wall of the case and one wall of the cover, and between which is carried said solenoid within the switch housing, said flanges having their extremities projecting beyond the one wall of said cover and adapted to be deformed out of alignment with the slot formed therein so as to secure said cover to said case when said solenoid is positioned therein.
 5. An electromagnetic switch as defined by claim 1 wherein said means provided by said switch blade for resiliently supporting said actuator comprises a spring finger struck from the medial portion of said switch blade and bent out of the normal plane thereof and into contact with one end of said actuator within said housing.
 6. An electromagnetic switch as defined by claim 5 wherein said means provided by said bracket for supporting said solenoid within the switch housing comprises two spaced-apart flanges adapted to extend through aligned slots formed in one wall of the case and one wall of the cover, and between which is carried said solenoid within the switch housing, said flanges having their extremities projecting beyond the one wall of said cover and adapted to be deformed out of alignment with the slot Formed therein so as to secure said cover to said case when said solenoid is positioned therein.
 7. An electromagnetic switch as defined by claim 5 wherein said means connecting said switch blade to one end of said armature comprises a annular groove formed in said one end of said armature that receives and secures portions of the switch blade to either side of and beneath said spring finger and intermediate its ends to said armature.
 8. An electromagnetic switch as defined by claim 4 wherein said means provided by said switch blade for resiliently supporting said actuator comprises a spring finger struck from the medial portion of said switch blade and bent out of the normal plane thereof and into contact with one end of said actuator within said housing. 